Job 8:3

Old Testament Wisdom/Poetry ASV (1901)

What does Job 8:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Doth God pervert justice? Or doth the Almighty pervert righteousness?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Doth God pervert justice? Or doth the Almighty pervert righteousness?
Job 8:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Job 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3Doth God pervert justice? Or doth the Almighty pervert righteousness?

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Doth God pervert judgment? etc.] In his dealings with men in the way of his providence; no, he does not; here Bildad opposes himself to Job, who he thought had charged God with injustice in dealing with him, and his children, in the manner he had done: the same thing is intended in the following question, or doth the Almighty pervert justice? for judgment and justice are the same, and often go together in Scripture, as being done either by God or men, when righteousness is executed by them, and this is never perverted by the Lord; there is no unrighteousness in him, neither in his nature, nor in his ways and works, either of providence or of grace; he is the Judge of all the earth, that does…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The repetition of "pervert" gives an emphasis galling to Job (Job 34:12). "Wouldst thou have God," as thy words imply, "pervert judgment," by letting thy sins go unpunished? He assumes Job's guilt from his sufferings.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Doth God pervert judgment? - That is, Does God afflict people unjustly? Does he show favor to the evil, and punish the good? Bildad here undoubtedly refers to Job, and supposes that he had brought this charge against God. But he had not done it in so many words. He had complained of the severity of his sufferings, and had indulged in irreverent language toward God. But he had not advanced the charge openly that God had perverted right. Bildad strenuously maintains that God would do right. His argument is based on the supposition that God would deal with people in this life according to their character; and thus he infers that Job must have been guilty of some great wickedness, that…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Doth God - Heb. The might God, as this word signifies, the Almighty, or All - sufficient God, as the next name of God implies. These names are emphatically used, to prove that God cannot deal unjustly or falsely with men, because he hath no need of it, nor temptation to it, being self - sufficient for his own happiness, and being able by his own invincible power to do whatsoever pleaseth him. Pervert - Judge unrighteously? No, this is inconsistent with God's nature, and with his office of governor of the world. Job 8:4”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“8:3-4 According to Bildad, God does not twist justice, so the death of Job’s children proved that they had sinned against God. Bildad divided people into the blameless (Hebrew tam, 8:20a; see 1:1) and the secretly wicked (Hebrew khanep, 8:13b). He believed that they could be differentiated by watching what God did to them.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“God: Job 4:17, Job 9:2, Job 10:3, Job 19:7, Job 34:5, Job 34:12, Job 34:17-19, Job 40:8; Gen 18:25; Deu 32:4; Ch2 19:7; Eze 18:25, Eze 33:17, Eze 33:20; Psa 89:14; Dan 9:14; Rom 2:5, Rom 3:4-6 Almighty: Job 21:15, Job 21:20, Job 34:10-12, Job 35:13, Job 40:2; Psa 99:4; Rev 15:3, Rev 16:7 Job 8:4”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification